In order to study the relationship between serum specific IgE (sIgE) and allergen skin test, allergen skin tests and detections of sIgE in 220 allergic patients of Wuhan area were analyzed. The coherent rate of the two methods was beyond 70% (P < 0.01). It was concluded that the in vitro and in vivo detection methods of allergens have a high coherence and can be used as the effective ways to diagnose the allergic diseases in clinical practice.
Allergens ; China ; Dermatophagoides farinae/immunology ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/*immunology ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria/*immunology

Increased FcepsilonR1alpha expression with upregulated CD203c expression on peripheral basophils is seen in patients with chronic urticaria (CU). However, there has been no published report on the association between CD203c expression level and clinical disease activity in CU patients. To investigate whether the increase of basophil activation is associated with the disease activity of CU, we measured basophil CD203c expression using a tricolor flow cytometric method in 82 CU patients and 21 normal controls. The relationship between the percentage of CD203c-expressing basophils and clinical parameters was analyzed. The mean basophil CD203c expression was significantly higher in CU patients than in healthy controls (57.5% vs 11.6%, P < 0.001). The basophil CD203c expression in severe CU patients was significantly higher than in non-severe CU (66.5% +/- 23.3% vs 54.0% +/- 23.3%, P = 0.033). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that both > or = 72% basophil CD203c expression and urticaria activity score (UAS)> or = 13 were significant predictors of severe CU (P = 0.005 and P = 0.032, respectively). These findings suggest that the quantification of basophil activation with CD203c at baseline may be used as a potential predictor of severe CU requiring another treatment option beyond antihistamines.
Adult ; Autoantibodies/blood ; Basophils/*immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/immunology ; Male ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases/biosynthesis/*immunology ; Pyrophosphatases/biosynthesis/*immunology ; Receptors, IgE/biosynthesis ; Urticaria/*immunology

Specific IgE to gliadin was proposed as a marker for wheat dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis, while Tri a 14 was found to induce IgE response in baker's asthma. We evaluated whether these components could be used for discriminating phenotypes of wheat allergy. Twenty-nine patients who were wheat-induced anaphylaxis and/or urticaria (n=21, group I) and baker's asthma (n=8, group II) were enrolled. The prevalence of serum specific IgE to Tri a 14 was higher in group II (25%) than in group I (4.8%), while the serum specific IgE to gliadin was significantly higher in group I (70%) than in group II (12.5%). The cutoff value for predicting the baker's asthma using the ratio of serum specific IgE to Tri a 14 to gliadin was 742.8 optical densityx1,000/(kU/L) with high sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that Tri a 14/gliadin may be a potential marker for predicting baker's asthma.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis/immunology ; Antigens, Plant/*immunology ; Asthma/blood/diagnosis/immunology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Carrier Proteins/*immunology ; Female ; Gliadin/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood/immunology ; Male ; Phenotype ; Triticum/immunology ; Urticaria/immunology ; Wheat Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis/*immunology

BACKGROUND: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess that impact and to compare differences by culture, gender, age or duration of treatment. METHODS: We used the modified chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire, consisting of 15 questions. Over the course of 6 months, patients attending Immunology clinics at Campbelltown Hospital and private rooms in Australia and at the faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka were asked to fill out the questionnaires. We have obtained the data from 125 patients (43 Australian vs. 82 Sri Lankan). There were significantly more female patients (P < 0.01). The data was analysed using SAS. RESULTS: Overall, patients were affected mostly by itch and wheals and least affected by the side effects of treatments. Sri Lankan populations were more affected by wheals and by interference on activities, mood and food choices but were less affected by tiredness due to sleep disturbances (P < 0.01). Females were more affected by sleep disturbance (P < 0.05) while those older than 40 years of age were more impacted by tiredness and by the side effects from medications (P < 0.05), though the complaints themselves were mild. Those who suffered from CIU for more than 1 year were more affected by wheal, tiredness and irritability (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The questionnaire highlighted some differences between patients attending Australian versus Sri Lankan outpatients. Significant differences were found in one third of parameters which include mood, sleep, daily activities and food choices.
Allergy and Immunology ; Australia ; Female ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Patients' Rooms ; Quality of Life ; Sri Lanka ; Urticaria

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate which Korean newspaper articles were reported on allergic diseases before the establishment of the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (KAAACI). METHODS: This study was performed in 3 newspapers, Chosun Ilbo, DongA Ilbo, and JoongAng Ilbo, which were founded and used the databases established before the establishment of KAAACI in 1972. The databases were searched using 42 keywords associated with allergic diseases (allergy, asthma, rhinitis, etc.). RESULTS: Among the 42 keywords, there were only 7 that were able to search: allergy, urticaria, asthma, dermatitis, rhinitis, pollen and eczema. The total number of articles related to allergic diseases were 62, as follows: allergy (n=21), urticaria (n=15), asthma (n=8), dermatitis (n=8), rhinitis (n=5), pollen (n=3), and eczema (n=2). There were 31 articles in Chosun Ilbo, 9 in DongA Ilbo, and 22 in JoongAng Ilbo. The first allergic disease published in the newspapers was asthma on the article entitled “Treat the cause of asthma” (on page 8 of November 10, 1960 DongA Ilbo). The first article that used the term allergy appeared in a column entitled, “Childhood illness and allergy” (on page 4 of May 30, 1960 DongA Ilbo). CONCLUSION: Since 1920, articles related to allergic diseases published in the Korean newspapers increased every year. These articles may have appeared due to the increase in the prevalence of allergic disease and the pioneering efforts of senior allergy researchers.
Allergy and Immunology ; Asthma ; Dermatitis ; Eczema ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Periodicals* ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Urticaria

This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of soy protein hypersensitivity in cow's milk protein-sensitive children in Korea. A total of 1,363 patients with atopic dermatitis, urticaria, enterocolitis syndrome, bronchial asthma or allergic rhinitis were recruited. First, we estimated the prevalence of sensitization to soy in children sensitized to cow's milk. Specific IgE levels > 0.7 kU/L by CAP assay were considered positive. Next, the prevalence of soy allergy in cow's milk allergy (CMA) patients was investigated. Those children whose parents agreed to participate the open challenge test with soy had a convincing history of allergic reactions elicited by cow's milk and these symptoms were relieved by elimination. All of them had negative soy-specific IgE. Patients with positive soy-specific IgE accounted for 18.3% of 224 children sensitized to cow's milk protein. The prevalence of sensitization to soy decreased with age (36.8% in the first year of life, 16.4% in the second year, and 13.7% in the third year). Of 21 CMA patients, 42.9% (n=9) were determined to have soy allergy (mean age 10.3 months). Our results suggest that soy protein formula should be carefully used as a substitute for cow's milk in CMA patients, especially during infancy.
Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Allergens ; Asthma/immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology ; Enterocolitis/immunology ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/immunology ; Human ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/metabolism ; Infant ; Korea ; Male ; Milk Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/immunology ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis/immunology ; Soybean Proteins/*chemistry ; Urticaria/immunology

BACKGROUND: The indirect basophil activation test using flow cytometry is a promising tool for autoimmune urticaria diagnosis. We aimed to identify better donor basophils (from atopic vs. non-atopic donors and interleukin-3 primed vs. unprimed basophils) and improve basophil identification and activation markers (eotaxin CC chemokine receptor-3 [CCR3] vs. CD123 and CD63 vs. CD203c). METHODS: Donor basophils were obtained from non-atopic and atopic group O donors. Positive control sera were artificially prepared to simulate autoimmune urticaria patients' sera. Patient sera were obtained from nine children with chronic urticaria. Assay sensitivity was compared among each variation by using positive control sera (n=21), applying cutoff values defined from negative control sera (n=20). RESULTS: For basophil identification, a combination of CCR3 and CD123 markers revealed a higher correlation with automated complete blood count (r=0.530) compared with that observed using CD123 (r=0.498) or CCR3 alone (r=0.195). Three activation markers on the atopic donor basophils attained 100% assay sensitivity: CD203c on unprimed basophils, CD63+CD203+ or CD63 alone on primed basophils; however, these markers on the non-atopic donor basophils attained lower assay sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: For basophil identification markers, a combination of CD123 and CCR3 is recommended, while CD123 alone may be used as an alternative. Donor basophils should be obtained from an atopic donor. For basophil activation markers, either CD203c alone on unprimed basophils or CD203c and CD63 on primed basophils are recommended, while CD63 alone on primed basophils may be used as an alternative.
Autoimmune Diseases/blood/*diagnosis/immunology ; Basophils/*immunology/metabolism ; Biomarkers/blood ; Child ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit/blood ; Male ; Receptors, CCR3/blood ; Urticaria/blood/*diagnosis/immunology

This is the first reported detection of serum IgE antibody to piperacillin-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate in a patient presenting with anaphylaxis that developed after occupational exposure. A 24-yr-old nurse, who had worked at a University Hospital for 2 yr, experienced chest tightness, dizziness, generalized urticaria, abdominal pain, and diarrhea 10 min after administering a piperacillin injection. She had previously suffered from atopic dermatitis. A skin prick test for common inhalant allergens was entirely negative; in contrast, her serum total IgE was elevated (283 IU/mL). A high level of piperacillin-specific serum IgE was detected by ELISA using piperacillin-HSA conjugate. Significant inhibition upon addition of both free piperacillin and piperacillin-HSA conjugate was detected by inhibition ELISA. These data suggest that piperacillin exposure in the workplace can induce occupational anaphylaxis and urticaria mediated by an interaction of IgE with the hapten of piperacillin.
Anaphylaxis/*chemically induced/immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood/immunology ; Intensive Care Units ; Occupational Diseases/*chemically induced/immunology ; *Occupational Exposure ; Piperacillin/*immunology ; Serum Albumin/*immunology ; Urticaria/immunology ; Young Adult

Thyroid antibodies are frequently observed in urticaria patients, but their roles in urticaria are not clearly elucidated. We investigated the role of serum specific IgE to thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in patients with aspirin intolerant acute urticaria (AIAU) and aspirin intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU). We recruited 59 AIAU and 96 AICU patients with 69 normal controls (NC). Serum specific IgE to TPO was measured by manual direct ELISA, and CD203c expressions on basophil with additions of TPO were measured to prove a direct role of TPO in effector cells. The prevalences of serum specific IgE to TPO were significantly higher in AIAU (15.2%) and AICU groups (7.5%) compared to NC (0%, P=0.018: P=0.013, respectively). Flow cytometry showed CD203c induction in a dose dependent manner with serial additions of TPO in some AIAU and AICU patients having high specific IgE to TPO. Our findings show that the prevalence of serum specific IgE to TPO was significantly higher in both AIAU and AICU patients than in NC. It is suggested that specific IgE to TPO play a pathogenic role in AIAU and AICU.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Aspirin/*adverse effects ; Autoantibodies/immunology ; Basophils/drug effects/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/*immunology ; Iodide Peroxidase/blood/*immunology ; Urticaria/*chemically induced/*immunology/pathology

Anisakidae larvae can cause anisakiasis when ingested by humans. Although several groups have reported a gastrointestinal Anisakis allergy among people in Spain and Japan, our report is the first to summarize the clinical features of 10 Anisakis allergy cases in Korea. We enrolled 10 Korean patients (6 men and 4 women) who complained of aggravated allergic symptoms after ingesting raw fish or seafood. Sensitization to Anisakis was confirmed by detecting serum specific IgE to Anisakis simplex. The most common manifestation of anisakiasis was urticaria (100%), followed by abdominal pain (30%) and anaphylaxis (30%). All patients presenting with these symptoms also exhibited high serum specific IgE (0.45 to 100 kU/L) to A. simplex. Nine patients (90%) exhibited atopy and increased total serum IgE levels. The fish species suspected of carrying the Anisakis parasite were flatfish (40%), congers (40%), squid (30%), whelk (10%), and tuna (10%). Anisakis simplex should be considered as a possible causative food allergen in adult patients presenting with urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis following the consumption of raw fish or seafood.
Abdominal Pain/immunology ; Adult ; Aged ; Anaphylaxis/immunology ; Angioedema/immunology ; Animals ; Anisakiasis/complications/ethnology/*immunology ; Anisakis/*immunology ; Antibodies, Helminth/*blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity/complications/ethnology/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seafood/*adverse effects/parasitology ; Urticaria/immunology ; Young Adult